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OHL Saginaw Spirit

Christopoulos And Mangone Notch Hat Tricks In 8-5 Win Over Windsor

March 23, 2024 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Saginaw, Mich. - The Saginaw Spirit (49-16-1-1) faced the Windsor Spitfires (18-42-5-3) for the last time this season on Saturday March 23rd at the Dow Event Center. The Spirit honored all three of their overage players including Alex Christopoulos, Josh Bloom and Braden Haché. All three ended the night with at least one point. Braden Haché earned one assist, Josh Bloom had three helpers, and Alex Christopoulos ended the night with a hat trick. Max Donoso started for Windsor stopping 44 of 51 shots, while Nolan Lalonde saved 20 of 25 shots for Saginaw.

Saginaw wasted little time getting on the board, scoring just 19 seconds into the game. Owen Beck passed to Josh Bloom who then found Alex Christopoulos who was on Donoso's doorstep. Christopoulos simply tucked the puck in behind Donoso, giving the Spirit an early 1-0 lead.

Christopoulos followed with his second of the game just three minutes later. After receiving a pass from Josh Bloom again, Christopoulos skated to the right faceoff dot and fired the puck right over Donoso's shoulder.

With 8:25 left in the first period, Saginaw scored their third goal of the night. Zayne Parekh launched a long shot from the blueline with the puck bouncing off Calem Mangone stick into the net.

The Windsor Spitfires eventually got on the board, scoring with eight minutes left in the first period. After collecting a pass from Tanner Winegard, former Spirit forward Valentin Zhugin took the puck just inside the right faceoff circle and fired it right over Lalonde's blocker.

Matyas Sapovaliv committed the first penalty of the night, receiving a holding call with five minutes left in the first period. Windsor took advantage of the power play opportunity with AJ Spellacy tipping home a Liam Greentree shot to bring Windsor within one.

With 2:29 left in the first period, Windsor tied the game up at three apiece with Jack Greenwell firing from the slot, sending the puck right under Lalonde's glove. Josef Eichler and rookie Conor Walton both were credited with the assists on the equalizer.

The first period ended tied, 3-3, with Saginaw outshooting Windsor, 18-13.

With 13:20 left in the second period, Saginaw finally broke the tie. Zayne Parekh made a backhand pass to Sebastien Gervais who rifled the puck from behind the right faceoff circle, sending it right between Donoso's legs. Captain Braden Haché was also credited with an assist.

With 2:57 left in the second period, Saginaw further extended their lead to two. After receiving a board pass from Rodwin Dionicio, Michael Misa staked into the slot where he found Calem Mangone and passed up to him. Mangone didn't have the puck for long as he'd send it into the roof of the net, right over Donoso's head to make the score 5-3.

Saginaw led Windsor, 5-3, going into the third period as well as outshot the Spitfires, 33-21 (15-8 in the second period).

With 8:02 left in the game, Saginaw would score their sixth goal of the game. Hunter Haight attempted a shot from the left faceoff dot but the puck bounced off Donoso's pads, off PJ Forgione skate, and to Matyas Sapovaliv. The center flipped the puck over Donoso's pads into the net for the goal.

With 7:29 left in the game, Alex Christopoulos scored his third goal of the night to get the hat trick with both Zayne Parekh and Josh Bloom getting the assists. In a battle for the puck in front of Windsor's net, Christopoulos managed to poke the puck in right under Donoso's pads.

Windsor scored their fourth goal of the night with just 5:34 left in the game. After receiving a cross ice pass from AJ Spellacy, Ryan Abraham skated up ice to the right inner hash marks before dumping the puck behind him to Valentin Zhugin. Zhugin immediately smashed a one timer right over Lalonde's shoulder to make the game now 7-4, still in favor of Saginaw.

Windsor still wouldn't quit, as they'd score again with 1:21 left in the game. After collecting a pass from Noah Morneau, Liam Greentree took off up ice and riffled the puck into the left corner of the net.

With less than a minute left in the game, Calem Mangone intercepted a Windsor Spitfire pass and immediately fired it toward the Spitfires empty goal. The puck went in uncontested and Mangone would earn himself a hat trick to give the Saginaw Spirit a 8-5 victory. The Spirit also outshot the Spitfires, 52-25 (19-4 in the third period).

Saginaw's last regular season game will be against the Soo Greyhounds on March 24th at the GFL Memorial Gardens. Puck drop is at 2:07 pm.

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